Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
According to sources, the House Ways and Means Committee is in the process of developing legislation to correct certain problems caused by the Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 2004 that have been identified by the International Trade Commission (ITC). Sources state that this technical correction bill, which has not yet been introduced, is separate from the new Miscellaneous Trade Bill that the House Ways and Means Committee is developing.
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
If your job depends on informed compliance, you need International Trade Today. Delivered every business day and available any time online, only International Trade Today helps you stay current on the increasingly complex international trade regulatory environment.
1. House Ways and Means Works on Technical Corrections Bill for 2004 Miscellaneous Trade Bill
2. DHS Secretary Chertoff Unveils "Security Envelope" Concept
In May 23, 2005 remarks before the German Marshall Fund and European Policy Centre, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff stated that he would like to see a world that is banded together by security envelopes - secure environments through which people and cargo can move rapidly and safely, without sacrificing security or privacy. Such a concept would require proper security vetting, technology, travel documents, and cargo tracking. Those within the security envelope, trusted travelers and shippers, would be able to move relatively freely from point to point, all across the globe without being re-vetted or rechecked. (05/23/05 speech, available at http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interapp/speech/speech_0253.xml )
3. No End in Sight to Long-Haul Driver Shortage
American Shipper reports that according to a report conducted by economic consulting firm Global Insight for the American Trucking Associations (ATA), long-haul motor carriers, currently short 20,000 drivers, are expected to be 111,000 drivers short by 2014. As a result, ATA states its members will increasingly have to attract more women, African American, and Hispanic drivers to grow their business. (American Shipper, dated 05/26/05, Shippersnewswire@americanshipper.com )
4. China Rules Out Additonal Curbs on its Textile Exports
China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) has issued a notice that states that China will not impose additional curbs on its textile exports beyond what it has already imposed - which has been to raise taxes and lower export rebates. (MOFCOM notice, dated 05/20/05, availablefromBP by fax only by emailing documents@brokerwpoer.com.)
5. APHIS Closes U.S. Border to Cattle from Durango, Mexico
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that its Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has closed the U.S. border to cattle from the Mexican state of Durango due to inadequacies with that state's bovine tuberculosis (TB) management program. (USDA press release no. 0180.05, dated 05/24/05, available at http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=2005/05/0180.xml)
6. Canada Requests Special Meeting of WTO DSB Over U.S. Use of "Zeroing"
Canada has issued a letter requesting a special meeting of the World Trade Organization's (WTO's) Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) on June 1, 2005 because it believes the U.S. has failed to comply with the DSB's recommendations and rulings that the use of "zeroing" in its Section 129 determination for certain softwood lumber products from Canada is WTO-inconsistent. WTO trade experts have previously found that "zeroing" results in erroneous antidumping (AD) calculations because the methodology ignores sales at above-market prices. (See ITT's Online Archives or 04/19/05 news, 04041999 2, for previous BP summary of a WTO ruling on zeroing.) (Canada's Letter 05-2051, 05/20/05, available at http://docsonline.wto.org/DDFDocuments/t/wt/ds/264-16.doc)
7. USDA Final Rule Adjusts its Civil Monetary Penalties for Inflation
The USDA has issued a final rule, effective June 23, 2005, which adjusts civil monetary penalties imposed by the USDA's agencies in order to incorporate an inflation adjustment, in accordance with the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990, as amended. (FR Pub 05/24/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-10153.pdf)
8. FDA Issues Alert on Certain Tahini that May Be on Market Despite Recall
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a talk paper alerting the public that contaminated Ziyad brand Tahini and Ghandour Tahina Extra Sesame Butter may still be on the market despite an April 2005 recall of these products due to possible salmonella contamination. The FDA's talk paper lists the specific names and packaging dimensions of the recalled products. (FDA Talk Paper T05-21, dated 05/18/05, available at http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/ANSWERS/2005/ANS01358.html)
9. President's Export Council Scheduled to Hold Open Meeting on May 25th
The International Trade Administration (ITA) issued a notice announcing that the President's Export Council (PEC) was scheduled to hold an open meeting on May 25, 2005 in Washington, DC. The meeting was to include discussion of trade priorities and initiatives, PEC subcommittee activity and proposed letters of recommendation. (FR Pub 05/20/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-10169.pdf)